Brick-kiln.



No. 673,896. Patented May 14, 190i. J. C. 5033.

BRICK KILN.

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No mum.

ue Nonms versus co PHOTKLLITHQ. wAsnwaYom u c.

Patented May [4, l90l.

&N SL l K K .um R B & 9 3 7 6 0 N (Application filed Mar. 27, 1900.1

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

iTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. BOSS, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

BRICK-KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,896, dated May 14,1901.

Application filed March 2'7, 1900. Serial No. 10,395. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. BOSS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elkhart, Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Brick-Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to kilns for the burning of brick or other clayarticles and is designed for the purpose of utilizing coal and at thesame time to expedite the process of burning, to distribute the productsof coinbustion and the heat more uniformly throughout the kiln, andthereby also to improve the products.

I am aware that heretofore coal has been used as a fuel in burningbricks, the combustion of which is carried on by means of a raised grateplaced in the arch, said grate having the ordinary open structure andthe combustion being maintained over its whole surface simultaneouslyand equally by natural draft through the chimney. I am also aware of thepatent of Duty of 1874, No. 150,232, in which is described a kiln havingarches for the fuel and passages leading from the furnace whereby air isforced into the arches to maintain the combustion of the fuel.

My invention includes arches and means for supplying a blast of airthereto; but it specially consists in a box or chamber below the floorof the arch and adapted to hold air under pressure, with openings forthe discharge of air against the coal from the said box, and, further,in the special arrangement and construction of the boxes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of the arches, air-boxes,blower, and pipes leading therefrom to the boxes. Fig. 2 shows a frontelevation of one of the arches with the box in place. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of one of the boxes, and Fig. i a crosssection of Fig.3, taken through one of the holes.

In the drawings, A represents the mass of bricks as they are arranged inan ordinary kiln prepared for the process of burning. The ordinaryarches, extending from side to side and constructed and arranged in theusual manner, are shown at 13. Within these arches, at each end thereof,1 locate my airbox, by means of which I am able to dispense with thegrate. A convenient form of this box is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thisconsisting of a rectangular box D, open at the bottom and closed at thesides and top, which is provided with openings for the passage of theair, as hereinafter described. These boxes as I have used them have beenmade three feet three inches long, seven inches wide, and four inchesdeep; but their dimensions may be varied. These boxes are placed,preferably, in the central line of the arch, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,in trenches, so that the bottom is flush, substantially, with the flooror bed of the kiln on which the bricks rest. One is placed at each endin every one of the series of arches, as indicated in the plan view.

A blower E, located outside the kiln, is connected with a main pipe F onits pressure side, and this main pipe extends under the kiln-floor intwo main branches G G, from each of which side pipes 2 extend laterally,one into every one of the air-boxes through which the air is forced tothe fuel within the arches.

Suitable valves are provided to control the air and direct it asrequired.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the air-box detached from its normal position.Itis designed simply to afford an inclosed space for the air which isdischarged through the apertures, and although the form shown I havefound in practice to be the most convenient, yet any construction whichwould secure the inclosed space and aiford means for the escape of thelimited amount of air under pressure would be within the limits of myinvention. The apertures are shown at 3.

My invention requires, for the best effect, that the air should bedirected upon the fuel within comparatively narrowlimits and only upon apart of the fuel. Practically the firechamber, which in the form shownoccupies the whole arch, has a solid or closed bottom, which in thiscase consists mainly of the floor of the kiln, and in part only of thetop of the box, which is also solid excepting at the line of apertures.These in the form shown are arranged in single line, which lies alongthe central line lengthwise of the arch or firebox. For the purpose ofbetter diffusion and direction of the air and to discharge it providedwith longitudinal ribs 5., which leave thin segmental spaces 6 betweenthe plug and the wall of the hole. The plug is mounted on a threadedspindle 7, which passes down through the yoke 8 and is held by a nut 9,

all easily applied and removed. The fuel,'

which may be spread out thinly on the bottom of the fire-chamber, isignited along the line of the apertures at first, and air is applied bythe blower, at first gently and with a pressure of about one-half ounce,and afterward, as the combustion increases, alittle more, but not forthe best effects to exceed over one ounce. This causes the combustion ofthe coal at first along the line of apertures and maintains thecombustion. As the operation increases the combustion spreads to theparts of coal not directly affected by the currents of air andsimply'byoontact of the unin flamed mass with that which is ignited. Bythis method of ignition along a narrow line or lines and bycommunication from the ignited to the unignited portion of the fuel notdirectly affected by the air-current I am able to consume the fuelthoroughly and at the same time force the products of combustion,without the clogging of unconsumed carbon and without the expensive aidof a chimney, gradually through the entire mass of brick.

By means of the air-pipes branching to each side of the kiln and thedoors capable of closing the arches I am able to control the heat and todirect the products of combustion to one side or the other while stillmaintaining the fires upon both sidesthat is to say, in each end of thearches. In the operation I at suitable times diminish or entirely shutoff the outside air from one side of the kiln and maintain it upon theother. This forces the products of combustion to the one side and causesthem to enter and pervade the mass upon that side, and having maintainedthis for a suflicient length of time I alternate With the other, andthus evenly distribute the action of the heat.

At the beginning of the 5 operation, however, I leave the doors open onboth sides and While maintaining the blast al- 1 low free access of airthrough the door. This is 5 continued until the bricks become thoroughlydried and heated for the greater part to a red or approximately redheat. This with my apparatus is accomplished in two days or a littlemore. I then establish the alternate action above described.

It will be observed that the boxes do not extend to the interior of thearches, but that an unoccupied space is left between their interiorends. This interior part, however, is occupied by the products ofcombustion when it is fully established.

My invention is applicable also to downdraft furnaces, and the boxes areplaced in the arches or furnaces of such kilns Without material changein the invention.

It will be observed that the boxes are cut out at the ends to allow ofthe entrance of the air-pipe. A plate or cover closes the opening at theopposite end, and this may be removed when it is desired to remove theaccumulated ashes.

The air-box, it will be noticed, is located in a trench formed in thefloor of the kiln.

What I claim is 1. In combination in a kiln, an air-blast box at thebottom of the arch thereof, said box having a cover with a plurality ofupwardlydirected openings, a blower and a pipe leading from the blowerto the air-box.

2. In combination in a kiln with the arch, an air-blast box at thebottom of the arch comprising the cover or top and "the sides extendingdown wardly therefrom, said box hav ing a plurality of upwardly-directedopenings in its cover or top, substantially described.

3. In a kiln the combination with the arch, of an ai-rbox at the bottomof said arch, and beneath the support for the fuel, said box having aplurality of up wardly-directed openings for discharging air up throughthe fuel, a blower and a pipe leading from the blower to the air-box,substantially as described.

4:. In combination in a kiln with the arch, an air-box embedded in thefloor of the arch and comprising sides and a top, the latter being flushWith the bottom of the arch and having a plurality of upwardly-directedopenings, a blower and pipes leading from the blower to the air-box,said box being adapted to receive the fuel upon its cover, substantiallyas described.

5. In combination with the arch of a kiln, a pair of air-boxes, one ateach end of the arch extending part way of the length of the arch,leaving a space between their inner ends, each box having a plurality ofupwardly-directed openings disposed in itscover, substantially asdescribed.

6. In combination with the arch of a kiln, a pair of air-boxes, one ateach end of the arch extending part way-of the length of the archleaving a space bet-ween their inner ends, each box having a pluralityof upwardly-directed openings disposed in its cover with conical ribbedplugs in said openings, substantially as described.

7. In combination, the arch havinga trench formed in its floor, anair-box arranged in said trench and having its cover or upper sideprovided with a plurality of upwardlydireoted openings, said cover beingarranged to support the fu'ehsubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN (J. BOSS.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. COOPER, O. S. MIDDLETON.

lOO

